Garment clasp



w. E. OLMSTEAD June 27, 1939.

GARMENT CLASP INVENTOR. MYfiarf. Ohms/ewe BY Patented June 27, 1939 UNITED STATES PATET QEFEQE GARMENT CLASP Application September 29, 1937, Serial No. 166,246

3 Claims.

My invention refers to garment clasps such as are used in connection with hose supporters, and, in fact,might betermedahose supporter, although I have entitled it as a Garment clasp.

The main object of the invention is to eliminate any bulge whatever of the button element of the clasp by so constructing the latter that all its outer parts are at the same level.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for detaching the clasp from the tape or webbing that is secured to the corset or other garment, so that said webbing tape and garment may be washed.

This invention is of the button and loop type, and no stitching whatever is necessary.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a preferred form of my invention with the button in clasping position at the lower end of the loop, it being deemed unnecessary to show the stocking or other fabric.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown at Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is similar to Figure 1, but showing another form of my invention, and Figure 4 is a side elevation of the structure shown at Figure 3.

Fig, 5 is a detail view of the loop with a clamp secured at the upper end of the loop and in open condition.

Fig. 6 is a detail plan View of the button and tape, and Figure '7 is a section at the line 11 of Figure 6.

Fig. 8 is a segmental longitudinal section broken away at the line 8-8, showing particularly the way in which the tape, loop and webbing attaching link are secured together so that said loop and, link are flexibly connected.

Fig. 9 is similar to Figure 1, but broken, and showing particularly how a wide webbing may be detachably connected.

Similarly numerals of reference denote like parts in the several figures of the drawing.

l is the button head, 2 a collet, and 3 an integral base thereof, the latter being vulcanized directly to the lower end of the tape 4,

The loop 5, comprises two parts in diiferent planes, one part 6, being enlarged to admit the button and garment, as is usual in button and loop garment clasps, while the other part 1. is con- 50 tracted to admit only the button collet 2 and fabric, and this part 1 is in a plane lower than that of the part 6, the difference between the levels of these planes being substantially equal tothe height of said collet and button with garment 55 thereover, so that it will be readily understood that the button and part 5 will be in the same level.

The upper end of the loop 5 is depressed as shown at 8, whereby the tape will pass through said part and under the upper end of said loop at a lower level than it would if said part 6 had no depression 8, and therefore when the button is in clasping position, the button, part 6 and the tape 4 that is over the top of loop 5 will be in the same level as shown in Figure 2, and there will be no bulging of the button at the outside of the garment.

The opening between the sides of the part 1 is smaller than the collet 2 and is slightly less at its entrance so as to prevent the accidental retraction of the collet from said opening.

The part 5 is inset at the sides as shown at 9 to keep the tape beneath said part and insure the ready clasping and unclasping movements.

The tape 4 which underlies the base 3 prevents any contact of rubber with the skin of the wearer of the clasp.

In some instances a narrow webbing I0 is employed for attachment to the corset or other garment, as shown at Figures 1 and 2, in which cases an open clamp II is secured to the top of the loop 5, the tape at its free end placed within said clamp, the bottom bar of a link [2 placed on the tape within said clamp, and the latter bent around said bottom bar and impinged against said tape, the impinging part of the clamp being preferably toothed although I do not wish to be limited in this respect as this manner of clamping tape in garment clasps is old and well known. The tape is then passed through upper part of loop 5 and around the clamp H and through opening in link 12 and again through upper part of loop 5 so that the insets 9 overlie said tape, and the clasp itself is then completely finished.

This link I2 has an open end with the lower bar end upturned as shown at l3 to prevent disengagement of the clamp and link, and the upper end of said link is bent downwardly and intumed as seen at M so as to leave a space l5 between said upper end and inturned. portion, and the webbing I l] is then inserted through the link and into the space l5 as shown in Figure 1 preparatory to the attachment of said webbing to the corset or other garment.

When a wide webbing I6 is used as seen at Fig. 3 it is looped within a wide link ll that is constructed precisely like the link [2 except that it is not open at one end and is on a larger scale with a dropped part IS in the lower bar of the link to insure the relative positions of the tape and link.

Said wide webbing is then in a position. to be attached to a corset or other garment.

Referring to Figure 9, the construction is precisely like that at Figure 1 except on a larger scale and with a wide webbing A, the lower bar of the link having a dropped part I9 upturned at 20 to prevent the clamp from slipping off said lower bar.

In vulcanizing the base 3 to the tape 4, there is an important feature which I wish to emphasize, and that is, that said base is chamfered throughout its perimeter as shown at 2|, and the vulcanization causes the usual flash 22 to adhere closely to the tape beyond the upper end of the chamfered part, which chamfer makes it impossible to lift the base from the tape and thereby cause the button element to eventually separate from the tape.

The flash at the sides and lower end of said base is out 01f, and, there is no likelihood of the base becoming loosened from the tape owing to the bevel at the upper end.

What is claimed is:

1. In a garment clasp, a loop member adapted to be connected at its upper end to a supporting portion of a garment, and a flexible button memher for cooperation with said loop member comprising a flexible tape having parallel sides, and a rubber button secured to the lower end of said tape consisting of a flat rubber base portion having its sides parallel and continuous with the sides of said tape member, a head having a flat front surface parallel to said base and having its side edges inwardly spaced from the side edges of said base, and a collet connecting said base to said head formed by a groove underlying the side and bottom marginal portions of said head, said groove being in a plane parallel to said base and said front surface of said head, said loop member comprising an upper loop portion having an opening wider than said tape and through which said tape extends from the front side of the upper end of said member to the rear side, inwardly .projecting retaining portions adjacent said upper loop portion adapted to overlie said tape at points inwardly of its side edges, an intermediate button receiving loop portion having an opening adapted to freely receive said head and having sides disposed inwardly of the side edges of said tape portion and overlying the marginal portions thereof, and a restricted lower loop portion adapted to be engaged by the groove of said collet and comprising side and bottom portions underlying the marginal side and bottom portions of the button in the fastened position, said lower loop portion being rearwardly ofifset with respect to said intermediate portion and disposed in a plane parallel thereto, said offset substantially corresponding in depth to the thickness of said head whereby said flat surface of said head is in substantially the same plane as the front surface of said intermediate portion, and both are parallel to the plane of said rubber base portion.

2. The invention as described in claim 1, further characterized in that said upper loop portion is bent rearwardly away from the plane of said intermediate portion a distance substantially corresponding to the thickness of the portion of said tape disposed forward of said loop portion, whereby the front surface of said portion of the tape is in substantially the same plane as said intermediate portion and the front surface of said button.

3. The invention as described in claim 1, further characterized by a clamp member pivotally connected to the upper end of said loop member and having a toothed flange portion adapted to be gripped with the end of said flexible tape.

WILBUR E. OLMSTEAD. 

